MISSION & OBJECTIVE

We are an independent festival dedicated to bringing together established and first-time filmmakers in a forum to celebrate the short film. The element of competition is not paramount and while the prizes are significant, it’s the taking part and screening of entrants' films in a public arena that counts. Our commitment, therefore, is to screen as many of the short films entered into our competitions as possible by streaming them on our own intranet network to venues all over the village of Schull. There are wifi hotspots too, so the films can be viewed on smart devices and laptops, but only in the village of Schull.

We show the competition films in the village hall, pubs, restaurants, shops and on the sides of buildings. We ask the question "What is a cinema, anyway?" and look for answers in every corner of the village. These are exciting times for the viewing public...we are trying to reflect this in our festival.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Because we seek to encourage young filmmakers to pick up their cameras for the first time, what we are looking for is imaginative solutions to inevitable production budget limitations. In other words, if you don’t have enough money to hire the latest camera, lighting and sound recording equipment let alone the best actors in the country, then don’t write a script that depends on these factors. As simple as it may sound, a good film always starts with a good script. A good script is one that both takes account of the limitations of the budget and seeks to rise above these limitations imaginatively. This year we have a special prize of €1,250 for the best young filmmaker aged 22 years or younger on 14th February 2015 and €500 for best junior filmmaker, aged 17 years or younger. Our main competition, the best of festival, is open to all filmmakers over 18 years on 14th February 2015 and also carries a prize of €2,000. We also have a best Irish Short Film Category, for films made by an Irish director, or made by an Irish production Company, and carrying a prize of €1,250. There will be additional cash prizes of €200 for the categories of Drama, Comedy, Documentary & Conservation, Animation, and Art House. Further prizes of €250 for Direction, Screenplay, Original Music and Cinematography.

We would also encourage participants to attend our festival and take part in the workshops and audiences with our guest directors. Over the past three years we have had Q&A audiences with Jim Sheridan, Gerard Stembridge, Mike Leigh, Lenny Abrahamson, Carmel Winters, Ken Wardrop, Jack Gold, Kirsten Sheridan, Steve Coogan, Greg Dyke, Tony Barry, Ian Power, David Puttnam, Sandy Lieberson and Chris O'Dell and many others. Check previous year's programmes available as downloadable pdfs on our website www.fastnetshortfilmfestival.com.

We will be announcing our full programme at our launch in April 2015 in The Bodega, Cork...check website for details. Our commitment is to focus on the craft of filmmaking and to encourage an exchange of ideas, aspirations and expertise among established filmmakers, young filmmakers and those who may never have picked up a camera before.

On 20th May 2015 for five days in Schull Town Hall, and embracing many outdoor and indoor venues all over the village, Schull will focus on short film programmes from all over the world.

PLEASE NOTE: YOUR FILMS, PHOTOS AND PRESS-KIT MUST BE READY TO UPLOAD ON THE DAY THAT THE ENTRY FORM IS FILLED IN. FEES WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE PERIOD THAT THE FILM IS UPLOADED TO WITHOUTABOX AND NOT THE DATE THAT THE ENTRY FORM IS STARTED. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN ENTRIES BEING REJECTED.

FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

1) Entries should not exceed 15 minutes in duration excluding titles provided the titles don’t last for more than 1 extra minute.

2) Only films completed on or after 1st January 2013 are eligible for entry into the 2015 Festival competitions.

3) Films previously entered into and screened at our festival are not eligible for re-entry in subsequent years.

4) If the film is not in English, then it must have hard-coded English subtitles, and in the case of DVD entrants, on both copies.

5) CFSFF reserve the right to refuse to screen any submission deemed by the Festival to be inappropriate. Should you wish to question CFSFF about their decision, you can contact us by email on info@fastnetshortfilmfestival.com.

6) All submissions are screened and evaluated by the CFSFF Preview and Selection Committees, appointed by the festival steering committee. Their reports are final and confidential. Due to the amount of entries we now receive only the top 45% of films from each category as voted for by the Preview & Selection Judges will be screened at the festival in our main venue, The Village Hall and our Distributed Cinema venues around the town. Submitters will be advised via email and the list will also be announced on our website and on our Facebook page in the second week of May. The short list in each category, to be announced late on Saturday 23rd May 2015, will be chosen by the Category Judges and will be posted on our website, on our Facebook page and in the Box Office window. The shortlisted films will be shown on Sunday (24th) morning in the Village Hall. The winning films in each category will then be chosen from this short list and announced at our prize giving ceremony on the evening of Sunday 24th May 2015.

7) In the event of a film being withdrawn, CFSFF will not be liable to refund the fee or return the materials entered.

8) CFSFF will determine the date and time when submissions will be. CFSFF cannot be held accountable for changes to the schedule after the festival line-up is announced.

9) Participation in CFSFF grants us the authorisation to show the entered film on our CFSFF secure Intranet network. Viewing is only possible within the village of Schull itself.

10) A fee is required upon submission. For payment structures, see elsewhere on WAB site. Basic submission fees are €20 (Early Bird), €25 (Regular), €30 (Late) & €50 (Late Late) depending on when submission takes place, though there are WAB discounts. Please ensure your film is ready to send to us at the time of entry.

11) One entry fee per category. The same film can be entered into one or more categories, but each category requires an entry fee. If the filmmaker chooses to enter more than one category with the same film, please add an incremental numerical addendum in brackets after the title; i.e. “Film Title” (1), “Film Title” (2) etc as the system requires this differentiation in the case of multiple entries with the same title.

12) Exclusively the participant shall pay all fees in relation to the uploading or transportation of submissions from their place of origin to the address of CFSFF. The Festival will not be responsible for the cost of receiving any additional materials i.e. DVDs, posters, photos, etc.

13) If music or additional film material used in your film is not original, then permission from source must be obtained. The responsibility for this rests entirely with the filmmaker. Failure to obtain clearance could result in your film being withdrawn from the Festival. In this event, CFSFF will not be liable to refund the fee or return the materials entered.

14) The submission of a film to the CFSFF will be considered to be an acknowledgement of the festival rules.

15) In order to be eligible for the 'Best in Cork' prize, please indicate on your submission entry if the film was written, shot or produced in Co. Cork. This is only relevant to those filmmakers entering into the Over 18 competition, it does not apply to films submitted into the Young Filmmaker (U22) and Junior Filmmaker (U17) categories.

16) Entrants should UPLOAD their film to Martin Levis (please refer to OUR WEBSITE for instructions on how to do this: http://www.fastnetshortfilmfestival.com/your-films/film-technical-information/ ) on the day that the entry form is completed. Please include your press kit including still photos. Please write a 10-15 word (ONLY) synopsis for use in our festival programme - should your film be selected. WE WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT THE JUDGES VIEW YOUR FILM IN THE HIGHEST QUALITY POSSIBLE. IF YOU HAVE A SCREENING COPY READY AT THE TIME OF ENTRY THEN PLEASE SEND US THAT VERSION.

17) CFSFF will contact you (fsfftechnical@gmail.com) if there are any problems. Once downloaded by us, your film will be loaded onto our festival server. Please refer to our website http://www.fastnetshortfilmfestival.com/your-films/film-technical-information/ for all Technical Information.

18) Insurance of DVD/USB entries is the responsibility of the sender. While all accepted films are treated professionally and with care, the Festival will not take responsibility for any loss or damage to DVDs.

19) CFSFF will attempt to resolve any technical matter related to submission. For more information and queries, contact fsfftechnical@gmail.com.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1) The submission of a film to the CFSFF will be considered to be an acknowledgement of the festival rules.
2) Participation in CFSFF grants us the authorisation to show the entered film on our CFSFF secure Intranet network. Viewing is only possible within the village of Schull itself.
3) CFSFF will determine the date and time when submissions will be shown. CFSFF cannot be held accountable for changes to the schedule after the festival line-up is announced.
4) CFSFF will attempt to resolve any technical matter related to submission. For more information and queries, contact fsfftechnical@gmail.com
5) Exclusively the participant shall pay all fees in relation to the transportation of submissions, from their place of origin to the address of CFSFF. The Festival will not be responsible for the cost of receiving any additional materials i.e. DVDs, posters, photos, etc.
6) Once a film has been submitted, it cannot be withdrawn from the competition unless the filmmaker has already submitted another film. In this event, CFSFF will not be liable to refund the fee or return the materials entered.
7) If music or additional film material used in your film is not original, then permission from source must be obtained. The responsibility for this rests entirely with the filmmaker. Failure to obtain clearance could result in your film being withdrawn from the Festival. In this event, CFSFF will not be liable to refund the fee or return the materials entered.
8) CFSFF reserve the right to refuse to screen any submission deemed by the Festival to be inappropriate. Should you wish to question CFSFF about their decision, you can contact us by email on info@fastnetshortfilmfestival.com.
9) Films previously entered into and screened at our festival are not eligible for re-entry in subsequent years.
10) Only films completed on or after 1st January 2013 are eligible for entry into the 2015 Festival competitions.